A unique quality of our Youth Summer Camp is its tiered leadership structure with our wonderful youth leaders playing a crucial role in coordinating activities and planning. Our youth leaders are “at promise youth” most of whom have long been members of CERI’s community and are between the ages of 16 and 20. They each have had the opportunity to showcase and step into their leadership skills, as well as their unique passions and strengths. Among various others, their responsibilities include organizing the food we offer throughout the camp, budgeting, planning field trips, and each being responsible for 3-4 designated younger youth in the camp. We are so proud of all of the hard work and love that our youth leaders have put into this summer camp, setting a great example for the younger youth they work with.

​​One of the most precious moments of the summer was the opening of the camp led by a very special guest, Neak Kru Sophiline Cheam-Shapiro. Neak Kru Sophiline Cheam-Shapiro is a world renowned Cambodian choreographer and dancer who has created her own beautiful piece around healing through traditional gestures. After teaching the youth and the elders the different gestures that comprise this artistic language, they were given time to practice and present their own gestures. This mutual artistic experience created a strong sense of unity between the elders and the youth. Moments like this are the essence of CERI’s mission, creating a space that nurtures intergenerational connection, and in this specific case through art and culture.